Thu Nov 20 17:00:00 UTC 2025: Texans Star Running Back Joe Mixon’s Return in Doubt Amid Lingering Foot Injury

HOUSTON, TX – Houston Texans fans are left in the dark regarding the potential return of Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon, who has been sidelined since the start of training camp with a persistent foot injury. Mixon, acquired by the Texans last season and expected to be a key offensive weapon in 2025 after a stellar 2024 season with 1,016 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, was placed on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list in July and has yet to be activated.

General Manager Nick Caserio provided a bleak update on Mixon’s status during a recent radio appearance, describing the situation as “very gray” and admitting that progress has been inconsistent. “Joe’s worked at it and there are times when he’s made progress, and other times when the progress just kind of stalled there a little bit,” Caserio stated.

While Caserio stopped short of ruling out a Mixon return, he offered no guarantees, stating, “Players in his status or situation are on the reserve list until they’re not… I don’t want to establish any sort of expectations.” He also walked back previous optimistic comments about gaining clarity on Mixon’s condition.

Head Coach DeMeco Ryans offered a similarly terse response when asked about Mixon’s injury, simply stating, “I do not,” when asked for an update.

With the Texans currently battling for a playoff spot with a 5-5 record, Mixon’s absence leaves a significant hole in the backfield. Dameon Pierce, Jaleel Chubb and rookie Jawhar Marks are currently splitting carries, with Chubb and Marks sharing the load almost equally with 99 carries apiece. Marks has proven to be a more versatile receiver, though Chubb averages more yards per carry.

The Texans have offered no indication whether their playoff hopes will influence their decision-making regarding Mixon’s potential return. For now, fans are left to wait and see if Mixon will be able to contribute to the team’s playoff push, or if his 2025 season has been lost to injury.

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